Blue Kumu

About

The Blue Kumu (Parupeneus cyclostomus) is a goatfish with a wide range across the Indo-Pacific, turning up everywhere from the Red Sea and the east African coast all the way out to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia. In the wild it roams coral, rocky, and rubble-strewn bottoms on reef flats, in lagoons, and along seaward reef slopes, using a pair of sensory barbels under its chin to probe sediment and crevices for anything edible. Its diet is impressively broad. Small fish, crustaceans, shrimp, crabs, octopus, small snails, and peanut worms are all fair game during daylight hours. Juveniles tend to hang together in loose schools, but adults generally go it alone, which is worth keeping in mind when planning a tank. At up to nearly twenty inches, this is a substantial fish that needs serious swimming room and a generous footprint, so a large display is non-negotiable. Tankmates need to be chosen carefully since anything small enough to swallow is likely to become a meal. On the upside, the species is listed as beginner-friendly, meaning it tends to settle into aquarium life and accept prepared meaty foods without too much fuss once established.